Epileptic patients need to bring condition under control

Abu Dhabi, UAE: People living with epilepsy must establish a good relationship and follow-up schedule with their treating physicians, Dr Preethi Devnani, head of department and consultant at NMC Royal, told Gulf News. This is critical to prevent any extreme consequences for the patient, according to the doctor.

“Many factors could trigger seizures in an epileptic patient, such as illness, sleep deprivation and trauma. But with supervision and timely medication, it is also possible to bring the condition under control and live a normal life,” Dr Devnani said.

“In general, people with uncontrolled and untreated epilepsy should avoid driving, swimming or undertaking hazardous tasks, such as operating heavy machinery, until they are able to get better control of their condition,” Dr Devnani advised.

Epilepsy is a disease characterised by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. A regular programme of medication can help in reducing the number of instances, Dr Devnani said.

“The patient must be careful to take the medications daily and at the prescribed times, and the employer should also be notified so that the patient doesn’t have to take on high-risk jobs that involve climbing heights or working when exhausted. Care should also be taken to ensure that the patient is not suffering from coexisting conditions like depression and mood disturbance, which could affect the patient’s level of focus on their surroundings,” she advised.

At the same time, the patient’s family must also be educated about the medication schedule, and not allow patients to swim alone, or undertake activities like driving that require undivided attention if they know that the epilepsy is not controlled.